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Saturday, November 29, 2014

above: Daniel Andrews' convincing win for Victorian State Labor provides a window for change: hopefully a opportunity that he will make the most of

Tristan
Ewins

Daniel Andrews is set to take office for Labor in Victoria
with a resounding electoral endorsement.

But one crucial issue was neglected by everyone during the
campaign.

Arguably no state government in the country has secured the
revenue necessary to sustain government provision of public infrastructure in
everything from transport to public housing and education over the long term.

Interestingly, former Conservative Victorian Premier Denis
Napthine himself had argued at one point for a higher GST.This
could deliver the necessary funds to the states generally. Though the measure
would have hit low income groups hardest, and hence would have been
unfair.

Meanwhile so-called ‘Public Private Partnerships’ (and
‘full-blown’ privatisation as well) also inevitably involve regressive
user-pays mechanisms; and arguably are less efficient means of finance. ‘The Age’-columnist Ken Davidson has long made
this argument to the chagrin of Labor and Liberal state governments alike.This makes the cause of progressive tax
reform all the more pressing.

Progressive tax reform is necessary to provide for working
families who increasingly cannot afford a roof over their heads; or who endure
insufficient transport infrastructure; or who may be the targets of future
unfair‘user-pays’ mechanisms via
toll-roads and the like.We need to
sustain more public spending, not less – to provide the roads, public
transport, schools and public housing necessary to ensure no-one ‘gets left
behind’; to gently deflate the housing bubble; and so services and
infrastructure are funded sustainably and fairly. Again: That MUST mean increasing progressively
sourced revenue Federally and ‘locking in’ the provision of necessary funds on
to the States.The states desperately
need certainty on this point.

During the Victorian State election campaign both sides
committed to ‘no new taxes’.Immediately,
therefore, apparently Andrews ‘hands appear to be tied’ on the revenue front.Although perhapsthe way may still be open to increase
existing taxes.The dilemma is
achieving this progressively.

But none of this is to say Andrews Labor cannot agitate
loudly and clearly – along with the Weatherill South Australian State Labor
Government – on a‘new front’: refuting
Abbott’s Ideological commitment to a ‘small government’.

Incidentally the ‘small government mentality’ – with all its consequences –
appears to be prevalent at a Federal Labor level as well.A long-time member of the Victorian Socialist
Left, it would be well for Andrews to publicly adopt the cause of proportionately
increased, fairly structured and progressive social expenditure.

In the meantime Andrews Labor is committed to suite of policies including support
for social and public housing – with regulations aimed at ensuring
affordability for the aged and the disabled.As well there is Andrews Labor’s commitment to removing dangerous level
crossings;and delivering enhanced fire
services and reduced ambulance waiting times.There is also Labor’s popular commitment to restoring funding for TAFE
campuses; and establishing jobs, education and training as a ‘top priority’.Finally the public voted for Labor on a
platform of cancelling the expensive Public Private Partnership on ‘East-West
Link’.

But limited Victorian State revenues remains the bugbear that
may come back to haunt the new government. Over the short-term Labor can afford to
spend; and indeed needs to spend in order to deliver the Victorian jobs recovery
it has promised.But for this to be
sustained over the long term something has to change federally.And
arguably failure to build crucial infrastructure would mean ‘bottlenecks’ which
over the long term do much more damage to the economy than increased public
debt. Abbott must take responsibility,
here, rather than follow through his political blackmail of withdrawing federal
funds.

These arguments need to be addressed by Federal Labor also if
Shorten is to deliver the full NDIS, as well as Gonski, and other potentially
popular initiatives.That should include
a National Aged Care Insurance Scheme;as well as Medicare dental, physio and optical; and for much more public
and social housing to ‘gently deflate’ the housing bubble.Also crucial are funds and programs ‘close
the gap’ on life-expectancy,and provide
life opportunities for the mentally ill.And finally we have to reiterate that federal tax reform is crucial if
efficient public investment in state infrastructure (roads, public transport,
schools, energy, public housing) is to be sustained over the long term.

It is also regrettable that Andrews Laborhas provided for its promise on level-crossings through privatisation of
the Port of Melbourne.Definitely it was
smart politics; and the role of ‘smart politics’ in the Andrews Labor victory
should not be understated.But arguably
inferior cost structures (including profit margins) will now flow on to the
broader economy over the long term.This
is a ‘once-off’ shot to public revenue that once implemented cannot be
reversed.There is a comparison, here,
with Abbott’s privatisation of Medibank Private.Although that policy will have specific
ramifications: creating a near-private monopoly in private health insurance,
with the market-dominance of the newly-private player working against the
interests of consumers. Also hundreds of
millions will be lost to the public in revenue every year.

Finally, Andrews Labor has the opportunity to pursue other
progressive reforms; not least of all developing a progressive agenda on
secondary curriculum that takes on the Conservative education orthodoxy
championed by the likes of Liberal stalwart Kevin Donnelly.As against Donnelly’s professed narrow
emphasis on numeracy and basic literacy there is a place in secondary curricula
for the imparting of critical thinking and textual deconstruction.That applies the English, the Social Scienceand Humanities as well.Education should not merely apply to ‘labour
market requirements’, but also must promote the demands of active and critical
citizenship, as well as political literacy, and cultural literacy,
participation and inclusion.Curricula
should aim to develop ‘well-rounded
human beings’.

There is no need for bias in such a curriculum, however.The Liberal Party itself is struggling to
survive organisationally as the young increasingly abandon political activism.
Rather a ‘critical/active’ curriculum could promote an appreciation of interests
and ideologies which was inclusive and balanced.As against Donnelly’s fears, it need not preach moral
and cultural relativism. Such reform could be ‘streamlined’ through
English, History, a new ‘Political Economy’ subject, and should attract support
from all who are serious about of robust democracy.

Under Joan Kirner curriculum reform was a top priority.So too should it be under the Andrews
Victorian Labor Government.

THE RED FLAG IS STILL FLYING HERE

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About Me

Tristan's areas of expertise include Australian and world politics, social theory, education, history, and computer gaming for PC. He considers himself a liberal, and also a socialist, but has also referred to himself as a left social democrat. He says such - conscious that there was once a time when 'social democracy' and 'socialism' were synonymous. Furthermore, Tristan is a long-time member of the Australian Labor Party - specifically its Socialist Left wing. He is also involved in the Australian Fabian Society. Tristan has written for many publications - including a stint freelancing for 'The Canberra Times': the daily broadsheet of the Australian Capital. Tristan's Personal Homepage is here: http://sites.google.com/site/tristanewinsfreelancewriter